Photo by Lo Sarno on Unsplash Statistical analysis of amateur golf performance consistently reveals a counterintuitive finding: distance control errors on approach shots cost recreational golfers more strokes than directional errors, even though most golfers practice and worry about direction far more. The Statistical Pattern Shot-tracking data from systems used across recreational and competitive golf shows that amateur golfers are typically far more likely to miss an approach shot short or long of their intended distance than they are to miss significantly left or right of their intended line. A shot that's 15 yards short or long frequently finds trouble — a bunker, water, or simply a much longer subsequent putt — in a way that a shot 10 yards left or right of the pin, but still on the green, does not. Why This Happens Directional misses are usually caused by face-to-path errors, covered in our ball flight laws article , which tend to be relatively consistent for an individual g...
It is Championship Sunday at the 2026 Open Championship. By this afternoon, a new name will be engraved on the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Here is everything you need to watch the final round live and when the Claret Jug ceremony takes place.
What Channel Is The Open Final Round On — Sunday July 19 (US Times)
Peacock: from 1:30 AM ET — Live from the first tee shot through the Claret Jug ceremony
NBC: from approximately 7:00 AM ET — Main final round broadcast. Free over the air with an antenna
Golf Channel: Evening — Live From The Open post-championship coverage and reaction
How to Watch Free Today
NBC is free with a digital TV antenna in virtually every US market. The 7:00 AM ET start covers the entire critical final round viewing window — the leaders will typically be finishing between noon and 2:00 PM ET depending on pace of play and weather delays. Saturday morning on the sofa with NBC and a free antenna is golf viewing at its most accessible.
The Claret Jug Ceremony
The Claret Jug ceremony is one of the great moments in sport. The champion completes their final hole at Birkdale, walks up to the historic Art Deco clubhouse, and receives the Claret Jug from The R&A's chairman. Their name is announced as Champion Golfer of the Year. The presentation takes place outdoors in front of the gallery at Birkdale — thousands of fans gathered around the 18th green to witness the conclusion of golf's oldest and most storied major championship. NBC carries the ceremony live. Peacock streams it for subscribers. This is the moment the entire week has been building toward.
What Time Does the Final Round End
The final group at Birkdale typically finishes between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM ET on Sunday depending on weather conditions and pace of play. If a playoff is required, the four-hole aggregate playoff on holes 1, 2, 17, and 18 begins immediately after the conclusion of the 72nd hole and adds approximately 45-60 minutes to the day. The Claret Jug ceremony follows the playoff if one occurs.
After the Championship
The 2026 major championship season concludes with the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The next major championship is the 2027 Masters at Augusta National in April. Keep The Birdie Putt bookmarked for coverage, how-to-watch guides, and course previews for every major championship through 2027.
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